The art and design of contemporary wine labels

I recently spoke with Tanya Scholes, author of “The Art and Design of Contemporary Wine Labels,” for a Q&A coming out in April's WBM. Tanya’s book surveys wine label art and includes the often unknown stories behind labels—many of which are inspiring, thought-provoking tales. The book has received some great reviews.

Here are a couple of them:

“The number of wineries and wine brands has utterly exploded in recent years, creating enormous pressure on wineries to essay to differentiate their products. As challenging as it has been for the wineries to weather this storm, it has been a boon year for label designers and aficionados of the wine label. The wine label provides the opportunity for the wine producer to provide a glimpse into his or her sensibility, and if well executed, can speak eloquently to the contents found within. Tanya Scholes has gathered together the most visually compelling labels and provided a great back-story to the semiotic treasure trove that is the universe of wine labels.”
—Randall Grahm, Founder and Winemaker, Bonny Doon Vineyard and Author of Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology

“This is, without question, the most complete book on the ‘story’ of wine labels I have read. The Art and Design of Contemporary Wine Labels has qualities similar to those I find in good paintings. I believe a good painting must get your attention and pull you into it; it should seduce you. And then, when you take the time to ‘read’ it, you should be rewarded with new things. You should discover new pieces of information each time you approach the work. It requires that you keep coming back to the painting to continue the conversation. You are first captivated by the image from afar, and then held close by its substance. TanyaScholes’s book does this beautifully.”
—Bob Nugent, Curator of Collections, Benziger Family Winery and Imagery Estate Winery

There are nearly 350 wine producers represented in Tanya's beautifully illustrated book. She said she interviewed many more than would fit into the 290-page book, however, and said she'd love to write a second one.